ANGER AT LABOUR PARTY BID FOR FORTH ROAD BRIDGE TOLLS.

LABOUR PARTY BID FOR BRINGING BACK FORTH ROAD BRIDGE TOLLS.

SNP MSP Tricia Marwick has warned that Labour is planning to reintroduce tolls over the Forth.

Ms Marwick has spoken out after Labour Finance Spokesperson David Whitton followed Labour’s Transport spokesperson in admitting that Labour would use tolls to pay for a bridge built by PFI if it was in administration.

The SNP is committed to building a new Forth Crossing on time and on budget by 2016.

Ms Marwick said;

“Labour’s behaviour over the Forth Crossing is appalling. Instead of getting behind the Government’s commitment to build the bridge on time and on budget they are planning to inflict more financial pain on the people of Fife.

“Labour stood in the way of abolishing tolls for eight years. The SNP abolished the tolls in our first eight months.

“Now Labour want to bring the tolls back.

“Scotland has seen the disastrous effects of building bridges through private finance with huge charges on the Skye bridge and ridiculous profits for the companies behind it.

“Instead of supporting the Scottish Government’s sensible proposal to build the new crossing in the public sector Labour are determined to stand in the way of a new toll-free bridge for Fife.”

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1. Interviewed on Newsnight Scotland (Monday 5^th January) Labour Finance Spokesperson David Whitton said;

GLENN CAMPBELL – “What I am keen to know is how would you pay for this bridge were you still in charge?”

DAVID WHITTON – “Well I think we would probably look at a private- public partnership. It’s a perfectly sensible way to do it

And continued…

GLENN CAMPBELL – “Okay, if you are in favour of some sort of PPE for the funding of this bridge would you also consider tolls or does that rule them out?”

DAVID WHITTON – “I don’t know if that rules them out or no

2. The following is an extract from Des McNulty's interview on Good Morning Scotland on 10 December 2008 where he finally admitted Labour "would look at all – all possible options" – which includes tolling.

DES McNULTY: Well I think there's a variety of methods that could be looked at, you know, there have been similar bridges built through conventional procurement methods. There have been bridges built through the PPP methodology…

GARY ROBERTSON: Presumably you wouldn't just want to see a situation as we saw on the Skye Bridge, for instance.

DES McNULTY: Well, no, I don't think that – that would be the best approach, although I think the government, in taking the approach they did to removing the tolls from the existing Forth Bridge has actually taken away a particular funding model that has been used in the past, so…

GARY ROBERTSON: …So would Labour restore those tolls?

DES McNULTY: No, I'm not saying that, but I think what the SNP government has done is, it's narrowed its options, and one of the things that emerged –

GARY ROBERTSON: …Well, your options would be narrowed as well if you're not committed to returning them, wouldn't they?

DES McNULTY: Well, I think either the SNP has actually restricted its options – its policy approach… I mean, what's paradoxical –

GARY ROBERTSON: Not to keep your options open? To be clear, to keep your options open, you would keep the option of returning the tolls, then.

DES McNULTY: No, what I said is we would look at all – all possible options.